Senate Proceeding on Oct 6th, 2011 :: 10:29:15 to 10:34:20
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10:29:11 to 10:29:33( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: the distinguished majority leader for yielding. i will not take long. i've been in the senate four years now, and i think my colleagues know i don't come down to the floor and spout a lot of hot air. but i but i have to be heard tonight, and i will agree with my friend, the majority leader, on one thing.

10:29:15 to 10:34:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Roger F. Wicker

10:29:34 to 10:29:55( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: this is no way to legislate. he said those words a few moments ago, and i we have become accustomed to a procedure, and i have disagreed with that procedure, but it has been the regular order during the time i have been here, and

10:29:56 to 10:30:21( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: that is the usual practice is a bill is brought to the floor and the majority leader immediately offers every amendment that can possibly be offered in a parliamentary way, thus filling the amendment tree and preventing other senators from offering amendments.

10:30:24 to 10:30:45( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: then cloture is filed and we don't have an opportunity to have a full hearing. i am told this has not always been the practice, but we have been accustomed to that practice. what happened tonight is far different from that, and i think that's why my friend from tennessee propounded the question to the majority leader.

10:30:46 to 10:31:09( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: we had a bill and it may be a messaging bill, but if it were passed, it would be a significant piece of legislation. i think both sides acknowledge this. and no amendments were allowed precloture, and no amendments have been allowed postcloture, and the majority leader this

10:31:10 to 10:31:30( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: very day after the cloture vote assured the senate that we would be operating under an open process, he said those words. of not only that and perhaps the majority leader when i finish in just a moment or two could -- could correct me, but i believe

10:31:31 to 10:31:51( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: i heard the majority leader say we would be allowed to offer motions to suspend the rules on a number of amendments and debate would be allowed. now, what occurred was senator coburn offered his motion to

10:31:52 to 10:32:12( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: suspend the rules on his amendment, and we we would be able to do this on at least a few amendments, but the very first amendment that was offered, the majority leader suggested to the chair and made the point of order to the chair

10:32:13 to 10:32:34( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: that that was dilatory, one amendment. one amendment, and that was deemed dilatory by the majority leader and the parliament correctly instructed the chair to overrule that suggestion by the majority leader.

10:32:35 to 10:32:56( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: upholding the precedence of this senate. and one by one, democratic members of this body had to march down and vote to overrule the parliamentarian of this senate for the very purpose of shutting down the chance to offer one single amendment. when the -- when the majority

10:32:57 to 10:33:18( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: leader well knew he had the votes to win, but our rules have, i thought, been designed and i think our society is designed around the concept that the minority has an opportunity to be protected, the minority has an opportunity to be heard

10:33:19 to 10:33:41( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: in this body of all bodies. and what we have come tonight unless we can remove that is we have changed the rules of the senate on a messaging bill, on a matter that the majority leader had the votes on. so that is my objection.

10:33:42 to 10:34:02( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: that is why i am so disturbed about the overreaction and heavy-handedness of this move. this is not a matter of supporting of one bill that he wants to get us out of town on. this is precedent, and we have -- unless we can change it,

10:34:03 to 10:34:21( Edit History Discussion )

Roger F. Wicker: we have forever changed the heard postcloture, and i am saddened about that. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: first of all, let me tell my friend that amendments